A man, identified simply as Taye, has died of electrocution after he rammed into an unfenced transformer in Idi-Oro, in the Mushin Area of Lagos State.
During a visit to the area on Monday, it was gathered from residents that Taye was under the influence of a brand of illicit drug popularly known as Colorado when he rammed into the transformer and got electrocuted.
Speaking with journalists, a business operator in the area who identified himself simply as Junior, said Taye was behaving erratically and laid by the roadside as it was raining heavily.
He added that some neighbourhood security officials attempted to make him leave the road when he ran into the transformer.
Junior said, “I heard he was roaming about and just went to hug the transformer. He was putting on red boxers. I don’t know what exactly happened but people said he took Colorado.
“Before he staggered into the transformer, he was lying by the roadside while it rained for about three hours. The neighbourhood security officials chased him off the road so he could take cover because of the rain and as they were chasing him, he went to hug the transformer. It happened around 12pm.”
Also commenting on the development, a lady in the area told our correspondent that Taye’s corpse had been removed by his parents on Saturday, June 10, the day the incident happened.
She said, “You know when you drink that thing, you will be out of control. He was staggering and before you know it, he went to the transformer. Before it started raining, people were able to control him but when it started raining, everybody had to find their way and that was when it happened. The guy has a twin sister but his name is Taye. His parents came and carried his corpse.”
While assessing the scene of the incident, our correspondent observed that the transformer which the deceased rammed into had been barricaded with ropes.
Contacted, the state spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mallum Abdullahi, said no official report had been made concerning the tragedy.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, also said he had yet to receive an official report on the incident.
He, however, said he was positive that “the DPO in that area has commenced preliminary investigations into the remote cause or causes of what happened. In the coming days, I should have more details of what happened and what has been done so far.”